2006 NHL Offseason Thread

[SuckaInA3Piece]

From the Calgary Sun:

Roberto Luongo's decision to sink or swim in Florida will have an impact around the National Hockey League.

Reports from Florida say general manager Mike Keenan will deal him at the end of the month if contract talks with agent Gilles Lupien remain stalled. A Canadian destination, possibly Vancouver, has been mentioned, while Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has refuted a Luongo-Pavel Datsyuk deal.

Lupien already has refused a five-year, $30-million US offer, reportedly because he can't activate the no-trade clause until 2007-08, by which time he fears Keenan will deal Luongo to a less than desired location. There is an outside chance the Maple Leafs could be involved, but that would likely require Bryan McCabe going south in return.

It's believed the Wings will take a hard look at getting Ed Belfour should the Leafs take the anticipated step of paying him $1.5 million to cash out the last year of his contract.

DOFFING THEIR CAP

There will be a $5-million boost in next season's salary cap to $44 million per team.

TSN reported last night that the NHLPA informed its membership of the change through its private website. The floor would go from a minimum $21 million to $28 million and rise from $39 million to approximately $44 million. That's about one to two million less of a top-end hike than was projected from 2005-06 revenues.

BLUE-LINE RODEO

Two veteran unrestricted free-agent defencemen are waiting to see if they will be in the Leafs' plans for next season.

Luke Richardson, who hoped to impress the club with his brief post-trade deadline service, has yet to hear anything definitive from the club, while it appears that Ken Klee, traded to the New Jersey Devils for Aleksander Suglobov, will not be back with that team.

"My two favourite places to play would be Denver (his off-season home) and Toronto," Klee said. "We'll see what happens."

The Leafs have not reached a deal yet with McCabe and it's unclear if they would take the estimated $28.75 million they were offering him to pursue another top defenceman, or spend it in another area of the depth chart.

BRIEFLY

Forward Patrick Elias, seen as a potential free agent addition to the Leafs, has enlisted agent Allan Walsh, who represents his Czech pal Martin Havlat of the Senators. That's spawned talk that both will re-sign long deals in Ottawa ... Ken Hitchcock has ruled out leaving the Philadelphia Flyers with a year remaining on his contract ... Jeremy Roenick is angling to end his career with a return to the Chicago Blackhawks. "Once free agency opens up, that is one of the first places I would like (agent Neil Campbell) to call," said the 36-year-old Roenick ... The Panthers and New York Rangers have made tentative plans to play a September exhibition game in Puerto Rico.

[YankeeRose]

while Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has refuted a Luongo-Pavel Datsyuk deal.

I like that deal, Datsyuk never shows up to play in the playoffs, so what good is he? The Red Wings need a goalie badly now that they decided not to resign Legace.

[SuckaInA3Piece]

The way the Wings have gone out of the playoffs the last few years, who has shown up for them?

If I were Florida I think I'd take that deal, but they better start building a better defence and get a young solid goalie in there.

[Bugs Meanie]

Luongo a Wing by the weekend?

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/storie...140.xml&coll=1

I'm not sure this is the answer for the Wings. They need more help in front of the goalie defensively than they need a new goalie (or at least a goalie this expensive).

[SuckaInA3Piece]

Luongo a Wing by the weekend?

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/storie...140.xml&coll=1

I'm not sure this is the answer for the Wings. They need more help in front of the goalie defensively than they need a new goalie (or at least a goalie this expensive).

Agreed.

Even Lidstrom played poorly in the playoffs. Chelios had his moments when he was burying guys along the boards, but I think they need some fresh blood back there. A guy like Kim Johnnson could help if they Flyers decide to let him walk, which they most likely will.

[Mario VH]

Well the offseason for the Oil will be a very interesting one. I was heart broken seeing them lose in the final-is their anything worse in professional sports than a Game 7 defeat???? Roloson is obviously a huge key for Edmonton. The team was on the cusp of something special and goaltending was the biggest weakness on the club till Roloson got to Edmonton. I'd still like to see Peca stay in Edmonton his playoff performance more than made up for a sub par regular season. Pisani is a guy who could pop 30 next year so the Oil need to find a way to keep him. I liked the acquisitions of Spacek and Tarnstrom and both would still look good on the blueline next season. Kevin has some work to do that's for sure. Hopefully all the proper descions will be made to allow the Oil to win one more playof game next year. Training camp is a little over 2 months away-that's unbelievable.

[Bugs Meanie]

Edmonton is a great example of the new look NHL and how it's going to work from here on out which is why I'm pretty skeptical over the Luongo in Detroit thing. The Wings were schooled by the Oilers because the Oilers are faster and extremely more aggressive in their own end (which is what Sucka alluded to). The days of Wings GM Ken Holland throwing cash to field a team of aging (often geriatric) Hall of Famers is over. I think the only Wings that are untradeable in Ken Holland's eyes right now are: Lidstrom and Zetterberg (sp)(maybe we'll find out Datsyuk this weekend in Luongo talks).

I'm also wondering if they're going to tweak the product at all for next year. I love that the refs were extremely consistant with their calls in the post season but sometimes this new look NHL is tough to watch. Too many ticky tack penalties and too many 5 on 4s, 4 on 4's 5 on 3's. I love the increased speed of the game but miss the physicalness of the early 90's NHL.

Lastly, I hope the salary cap of $44 million next year (up about 5 million from 2005/2006) doesn't start to squeeze out the small markets all over again.

[SuckaInA3Piece]

Don't get me going on small market teams. I still think the NHL should retract some squads, but that's a different topic.

I think what we've seen from this "new NHL" is that a team of superstars is no longer going to cut it. You'll need a nice mix of veterans in the locker room, a bunch of scrappy kids, and solid defencemen and goaltending.

Also, having four lines of guys that can play is a MUST. The enforcer has been taken out of the game, so now you need a guy that's able to play about 8 minutes at the least, and drop his gloves if need be. He's has to be able to give you quality ice time, or he will not be working in the NHL.

From the Flyers point of view, they have to establish an identity. You had the Broad St. Bullies, and ever since we've always been a team of big guys, some thugs, but can skate and score. Last year we played very well, were the number one team in the NHL at one point, but injuries killed us. After that, we didn't know who we wanted to be anymore. Bob Clarke must go out and get quality players. That no longer means bring guys here with big contracts. That means guys that'll sacrifice everything for the good of the team. If he can't do that, I believe Bob Clarke should be fired next year.

[Bugs Meanie]

It's too bad that Forsberg is always so dinged up. A healthy Forsberg surrounded by the grinders that Sucka speaks of would be incredible.

BTW, I'm having Ken Holland on the radio show I produce tomorrow at 5p e.s.t.. You can listen at: http://www.1270sports.com/
We'll be sure to ask him about Luongo and Datsyuk. Something tells me Holland will try to package Robert Lang with someone to Florida for Luongo but that's just me.

[SuckaInA3Piece]

It's too bad that Forsberg is always so dinged up. A healthy Forsberg surrounded by the grinders that Sucka speaks of would be incredible.

BTW, I'm having Ken Holland on the radio show I produce tomorrow at 5p e.s.t.. You can listen at: http://www.1270sports.com/
We'll be sure to ask him about Luongo and Datsyuk. Something tells me Holland will try to package Robert Lang with someone to Florida for Luongo but that's just me.

Gonna have to try and tune into your show tomorrow, but I think I'm working late!

Forsberg is hurt and won't be back until january, so that hurts us in more ways than one. Doesn't look good right now for the Flyers of 2006-2007. The good thing is the young players have some playoff experience and got some signifigant playing time last year.

Also, I hear Robert Esche will be traded.

[YankeeRose]

[QUOTE=SuckaInA3Piece]The way the Wings have gone out of the playoffs the last few years, who has shown up for them?
QUOTE]

Zetterberg and Yzerman played great in the playoffs this year. Detroit outshot Edmonton badly every game, even thought they lost the series.

[YankeeRose]

Luongo a Wing by the weekend?

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/storie...140.xml&coll=1

I'm not sure this is the answer for the Wings. They need more help in front of the goalie defensively than they need a new goalie (or at least a goalie this expensive).

I don't agree with Wings needing defence more than a goalie. The Red Wings have no goalie! They are not resigning Legace. No way is Osgood going to win them another Cup! Detroit has a great defence. Lidstrom is still the best defenceman in the league. They finished first in the league in the regular season. They just weren't hungry enough against the Oilers, until it was too late. They underestimated them for sure. Their coaching staff didn't seem to have them ready for the Oilers trap either.

I would like to see Chris Chelios retire or be traded though. He doesn't score anymore, and makes a lot of mistakes in his own end, and he never adapted to the new rules, all he does it take penalties.

[Duke]

I'm not familiar with the new CBA in detail, but isn't the salary cap tied directly to revenue? And isn't there a form of revenue sharing in the new deal?
I see the concern of the small markets and the cap getting to high, but i think the blow is somewhat softened with the new CBA.
I could be wrong here but......
The long playoff run should help Kevin Lowe's budget somewhat, although the ownership in Edmonton could be forgiven if they decided to give themselves a little bonus this year, after saving the team and then putting a plan in place to keep the team in town til a new deal could be reached.
Many thanks are in order.

[SuckaInA3Piece]

I don't agree with Wings needing defence more than a goalie. The Red Wings have no goalie! They are not resigning Legace. No way is Osgood going to win them another Cup! Detroit has a great defence. Lidstrom is still the best defenceman in the league. They finished first in the league in the regular season. They just weren't hungry enough against the Oilers, until it was too late. They underestimated them for sure. Their coaching staff didn't seem to have them ready for the Oilers trap either.

I would like to see Chris Chelios retire or be traded though. He doesn't score anymore, and makes a lot of mistakes in his own end, and he never adapted to the new rules, all he does it take penalties.

Good point about Yzerman, he did play well this year in the playoffs.

I gotta disagree with you on Lidstrom. He is a great defencemen, and yea he's arguably the best in the league, but he wasn't against Edmonton. He was a minus player to be exact, which tells me that they need some help on that blue line. Not much help, just another solid guy back there. Other than Chelios, they had zero goals from their defenceman against the Oilers.

Goaltending is an issue, but I'm not sure that bringing in a Roberto Luongo would be a good move for them. This team really confuses the shit out of me. They have great talent, but there's something missing.

[Duke]

The Wings didn't seem like they had anybody that could or would throw their weight around consistently against Edmonton.
Chelios can't keep up that physical pace the way he used to, and guys like Maltby and Draper don't seem interested in a heavy hit game anymore. Even Shanahan has lost some of that chippy edge he used to play with.
How's this, the Wings pickup Luongo but then ship him to Vancouver for Bertuzzi.
Mike Peca might look good in Detroit, i'd love to see him stay in Oiler blue, but i don't see it happening.
In Edmonton, i'd rather they re-sign Peca than Samsonov.